Register reset mechanism



May 14, 1968 E. C. AMBLER ET AL 3,383,015

REGISTER RESET MECHANISM 5 Sheets$heet 2 Filed March 2; 1967 May 14, 1968 E. c. AMBLER ET AL 3,383,016

REGISTER RESET MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 2, 1967 y 1968 E. c. AMBLER ET AL 3,383,016

REGISTER RESET MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 2, 1967 May 14, 1968 E. c. AMBLER ET Al.

REGISTER RESET MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 2, 1967 United States Patent Oflice 3,383,016 Patented May 14, 1968 3,383,016 REGISTER RESET MECHANISM Edward C. Ambler, Newington, Bradley L. Batson,

Hebron, and Richard J. Flis, Plantsville, Conn., assignors to Veeder Industries Inc., Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Mar. 2, 1967, Ser. No. 620,108 28 Claims. (Cl. 222-33) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A reset mechanism for resetting the register of fuel dispensing apparatus between fuel deliveries which is manually operable to load a reset spring at the completion of the fuel delivery by pivotal operation of a lever in one angular direction and manually operable for conditioning the register for being reset and for thereafter tripping the reset spring for resetting the register by pivotal operation of the lever in the opposite angular direction.

The present invention relates generally to registers or the like and more particularly is directed to a new and improved reset mechanism for registers of the type employed in a dispensing apparatus such as a gasoline pump. Typical of the reset mechanism to which the present invention is directed is the structure shown and described in the United States Patent No. 2,814,444 of Harvey N. Bliss dated Nov. 26, 1957, and entitled, Register.

The reset mechanism described in the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 2,814,444 includes a central shaft extending through the register and having on one end thereof a cam for shifting the counter shafts of the cost and volume counters of the register to thereby condition the number Wheels of the counters for either reset or registering operations. A control plate is provided on the other end of the central shaft for loading a reset spring which is subsequently released for resetting the volume and cost counters. The central shaft conventionally is connected to a manually operated control lever mounted on the exterior of the gasoline dispensing apparatus at a position adjacent the usual fuel nozzle storage receptacle for rotating the central shaft and appropriately conditioning the counter shafts of the register. As the lever is manually pivoted in a first direction the reset spring is loaded and the counter shafts are shifted to condition the number Wheels for being reset. That operation is described as occurring after the completion of the dispensing operation and before the fuel dispensing nozzle is replaced within the storage receptacle. The manual lever is also conveniently connected to deactivate the dispensing apparatus as by turning off the usual fuel pump motor. A reset button is conventionally positioned near the control lever for effecting release of the loaded reset spring to reset the number Wheels of the cost and volume counters to zero. Thereafter the manual control lever is pivoted in the opposite direction to shift the counter shafts and thereby recondition the number wheels for registering the cost and volume of the succeeding fuel delivery. Thus, it can be seen that in the conventional dispensing apparatus described, three separate operations are required to fully complete a resetting cycle between the end of an initial dispensing operation and the beginning of a subsequent dispensing operation. Additionally, it will be noted that the counter shafts are shifted for a resetting operation immediately after completion of the fuel delivery and prior to replacement of the fuel nozzle in the storage compartment. The counter shafts are not thereafter shifted for conditioning the counter for registering until just before the following fuel delivery when the nozzle is removed, the reset button is actuated and the control lever is turned. Since the number wheels may be inadvertently moved as a result of the axial displacement of the counter shafts when the control lever is turned prior to replacing the fuel nozzle in its storage receptacle, an inaccurate reading may appear on the register to the detriment of either the customer or the operator. Additionally, the return of the shafts to a registering position is conditioned upon the operator performing the separate function of pushing the reset button located on the exterior of the fuel dispensing apparatus.

It is therefore a principal aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved reset mechanism of the type described which provides for shifting the counter shafts to condition the number wheels for being reset subsequent to replacing the fuel dispensing nozzle within the storage receptacle at the end of a fuel delivery and which provides for automatically resetting and conditioning the number wheels to obviate inaccurate registration of the fuel delivery due to inadvertent movement of the number wheels between deliveries.

Another object of the present invention is to provide anew and improved counter reset mechanism which separates the reset spring loading operation and the counter shaft shifting operation for obviating the necessity of having the operator separately perform the resetting and shifting operations.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved counter reset mechanism of simplified construction and automatic operation whereby the conditioning of the counter wheels for registration of a fuel delivery is automatically eifectuated at the end of a resetting operation without requiring an additional man ual function by the operator.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved counter reset mechanism of the type described which provides for loading the reset spring by replacing the fuel dispensing nozzle in its storage receptacle and provides for conditioning the number wheels for being reset, triggering the reset spring for resetting the wheels and reconditioning the number wheels for registration, all by a single operation upon removal of the fuel dispensing nozzle from its storage receptacle.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved counter reset mechanism of the type described which is particularly adapted to control the apparatus with a minimum of operative movements on the part of the operator thus simplifying the dispensing operation and saving time and effort without sacrificing the accuracy or reliability of the mechanism.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a register of the type described in U.S. Patent No. 2,814,444, showing an embodiment of the improved counter reset mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of one end of the register of FIG. 1 showing a slide control device of the reset mechanism in its position during a resetting operation;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly broken away, showing the slide control device in its position during a fuel delivery;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational view showing a reset spring operating device of the reset mechanism in its operating position during afuel delivery;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view, partly broken away, similar to FIG. 5, showing the mechanism in its operative condition after the reset spring has been loaded;

FIG. 8 is an end view similar to FIG. 7 showing the reset mechanism in its operative condition just before actuation of the reset operation;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and partly in section, showing a fuel nozzle installed on a nozzle receptacle employing a reset mechanism control device; and

FIG. 10 is a reduced perspective view of the nozzle receptacle installation with the nozzle removed.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail Wherein like referenced characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, there is shown a register 10 of the type described in the aforementioned US. 'Patent No. 2,814,444, modified to incorporate an embodiment of the improved reset mechanism of the present invention. The register 10 is of the type conventionally employed in fuel dispensing apparatus for registering the cost and volume of each fuel delivery and includes cost and volume counters on each side of the register to enable the operator and/or the customer to observe the reading on the register from opposite sides of the dispensin apparatus.

In general, the counters of the register are adapted to be alternatively conditioned for registering the cost and volume of the fuel delivered and for being reset before each fuel delivery by axially shifting the number wheel supporting shafts 12 with a reciprocal slide 14 mounted on one end of the register '10 as part of the shift control subassembly 16 of the reset mechanism. In particular, when the shaft conditioning slide 14 is located in the position shown in FIG. 2, the'cost and volume number wheels 18 of the register are conditioned for being reset. However, when the slide 14 is shifted to the right as viewed in FIG. 2 so as to assume the position shown in FIG. 3, the wheel supporting shafts 12 are axially shifted to disengage the individual number wheels 18 from their respective resetting gears 20 mounted coaxially therewith and to condition them for being driven in a conventional manner for registering the cost and volume of the fuel delivered with the dispensing apparatus. While the supporting shafts 12 are in the reset position, the number Wheels 18 are individually reset through a drive train which includes a one-way driven, main resetting gear 22 rotatably mounted on the center shaft 24 for rotation in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5, the gear 22 constituting part of the reset subassembly 26 of the reset mechanism located on the opposite end of the register 10 from the slide control subassembly 16. Rotation of the main resetting gear 22 which in turn drives a reset shaft 28 through the pinion 30 secured to one end thereof will therefore effectuate reset of the number wheels 18 to zero. Since US. Patent No. 2,814,444, details the construction and operation of the register including the manner in which the number wheels are alternatively conditioned for being reset and for registering the amount of fluid dispensed by axial displacement of the counter shafts, reference may be had thereto for a fuller understanding of the register and its mode of operation.

Referring to FIG. 1, the center shaft 24 is shown provided with couplings 32, 32' atfixed to opposite ends thereof. Either of the couplings is suitable for receiving a connecting member operative in response to the movement of a control lever or other suitable mechanism such as the combined control lever and fuel nozzle support 34 illustrated in FIG. 9. The coupling' 32, as best shown in FIG. 6, carries a plate 36, hereinafter referred to as the control plate, which is adapted to be rotatedby the coupling 32 in response to the reciprocable movement of the control lever 34, the coupling 32 being afiixed to the outer end of the center shaft 24 by a pin connection at 38. Behind the coupling 32 is mounted a freely rotatable hub 40 supported by the center shaft 24 and adapted to carry both the plate 42 and cam 44. The plate 42, hereinafter referred to as the reset drive plate, and the cam 44 positioned intermediatethe drive plate 42 and the control plate 36 are both mounted for rotation with the hub 40 about the shaft 24. A pin connector 46 fixedly secures the cam 44 to the reset drive plate 42 to prevent independent relative movement therebetween, the pin 46 protruding outwardly of the cam 44 above the control plate 36 for attachment to the shaft of a conventional dash pot (not shown). The cylindrical, lower body portion 48 of the hub 40 extends behind plate 42 and is provided with an elongated peripheral notch 50 for securely and fixed receiving the inner end 52 of a resetspring 54. In the embodiment shown in the drawings the spring 54 consists of a fiat-coil or spiral power spring which is wound about the hub body 48 and has its outer end 56 secured to a fixed post 58 anchored to the side of the register whereby rotation of the drive plate 42 and supporting hub 40 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5 will load the reset spring 54 for a subsequent resetting operation.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8 a drive pawl 60 is pivotally mounted behind the drive plate 42 and 62 and is biased in a clockwise direction by the spring 64 into driving engagement with the ratchet wheel or notched plate 66. The pawl 60 depends from the drive plate 42 and is mounted for operation rearwardly of reset spring 54 in the plane of the notched plate 66 which in the specific embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is carried by the main resetting gear 22 so as to rotate therewith, the gear 22 and plate 66 being mounted on a hub 68 for independent, unidirectional, rotational movement about the center shaft 24. a i

It will be appreciated that the reset spring 54 constantly urges the hub 40 and control disk '42 carried thereby in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5. However, a latching pawl 70 for the drive plate is pivotally mounted on the fixed post 72 and is biased in a clockwise direction by the spring 74 for cooperating with the shoulder 76 of the drive plate 42 to prevent clockwise movement thereof under the bias of the reset spring. Also mounted for rotation on the post 72 is a control plate latch 78 biased in a counterclockwise direction by the spring 80 and positioned within the plane of the intermediate cam 44 for contacting the shoulder 82 thereof atone end of the inclined camming surface 84 thereby limiting further clockwise movement of the drive plate 42 and cam 44 under the bias of the reset spring 54. The cam 44 is further provided with a radial recess 86 at the opposite end of cam surface 84 for cooperating with latch 78 in preventing a return of the control plate 36 to a registering position after the fuel pump motor has been turned on but before reset of the register. Spaced behind pawl 70 on post 72 is a no-back pawl 88 urged clockwise by spring 90 into contact with the notched plate 66 to prevent counterclockwise movement of plate 66 and gear 22 during loading of the reset spring 54. Additionally, the plate 66 and gear 22 are held against clockwise movement by the latch 92 pivoted at 94 in a clockwise direction by the'sp'ring 96 and carrying on a shoulder 98 thereof an upstanding cam following pin 100 which cooperates with the outwardly camming portion.

register 10 for clockwise rotation as viewed in FIG. 5

under the bias of spring 106 to an OFF position shown in FIG. 7 and is suitably linked to a switch for the pump motor for energizing and de-energizing the motor in response to the movement of the reset drive plate 42. A lever camming tab 108 carried on the front face of drive plate 42 in the plane of cam 44 is rotatably mounted at 110 for clockwise movement by the lever 104 as the drive plate 42 is rotated counterclockwise to load the reset spring. The tab 108, biased into contact with cam 44 at 112 to limit counterclockwise rotation thereof, is provided with a top camming surface 114 for lifting the actuating lever 104 out of contact with the arcuate edge 116 of the drive plate and thereby switching the pump motor on. An elongated holding arm 118 for holding the lever 104 in an ON position is rotatably mounted on control plate 36 and is constantly urged in a clockwise direction to facilitate contact between the free end 120 thereof and the holding notch 122 in the nose of the lever 104.

The operation of the resetting mechanism described thus far is best understood by referring to FIGS. 5 through 8 of the drawings, starting with the mechanism in the position shown in FIG. 5 which is the condition of the mechanism during the fuel dispensing operation. As shown, the free end 120 of the holding arm 118 is positioned within the notch 122 of the lever 104 preventing its clockwise movement to an OFF position under the bias of the spring 106. Upon completion of the fuel delivery the control lever associated with the dispensing nozzle of the apparatus is moved to load the reset spring and turn off the pump motor. This may be accomplished either before, simultaneous with or after the return of the fuel dispensing nozzle to the nozzle storage receptacle depending on the particular form of control lever employed. In the embodiment illustrated, clockwise movement of the combined control lever and nozzle support 34 to the retracted position shown in FIG. 9 will cause rotation of the coupling 32 and control plate 36 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5. In the specific embodiment illustrated this rotation will be approximately 90.

During counterclockwise rotation of the control plate 7 36 it acts against the drive ring 124 on the dash pot connecting pin 46 to simultaneously drive the internal cam 44 and the drive plate 42 in a counterclockwise direction until they reach the position shown in FIG. 7. As the drive plate 42 rotates, the drive pawl depending therefrom will ride over or nondrivingly ratchet along the periphery of the notched plate 66 until the nose of the drive pawl falls into the next succeeding notch on the plate and the latching pawl 70 falls into the deep notch 126 on the drive plate 42 preventing further substantial movement thereof in either direction. At the same time the inclined camming surface 84 of the cam 44 will permit only gradual counterclockwise movement of the latch 78 so that the control plate latching pin 128 protruding outwardly from the latch 78 will not catch within the locking notch 130 of the control plate 36 and prevent its counterclockwise spring loading action. The counterclockwise movement of control plate 36 causes free end 120 of arm 118 to move out of notch 122 permitting lever 104 to move clockwise and rest on the edge 116 of drive plate 42 thus turning off the pump motor. The cam tab 108 will be driven clockwise as it moves past the lever 104 and will then return to its original position under the action of its biasing spring without moving the lever 104. After the motor has been turned off and as tab 108 moves past lever 104 the nose of latch 73 falls into recess 86 to prevent reactivation of the motor prior to the resetting operation. The counterclockwise movement of the drive plate by the control plate 36 eventually brings the camming surface portion 102 of the drive plate into contact with the cam follower pin carried by the latch 92, camming the latch in a counterclockwise direction to release the notched plate 66 for subsequent clockwise rotation during the resetting operation, the no-back pawl 88 constantly acting to prevent counterclockwise movement of the notched plate during the spring loading operation. The counterclockwise movement of the hub 40 by the drive plate 42 will wind the fiat-coil reset spring 54 to thereby load the spring for a subsequent resetting operation. Advantageously, the reset power spring 54 employed in the present invention gives a more constant or uniform driving action throughout the resetting operation as compared with the extensible reset springs used heretofore.

Thus, by moving the control lever 34 of the dispensing apparatus to its retracted position, the control plate and, consequently, the drive plate are rotated in a counterclockwise direction from the normal operating or registering position shown in FIG. 5 to the extended position shown in FIG. 7. The reset spring is thereby loaded for subsequently driving the main resetting gear to reset the cost and volume counters of the register and neither the counters nor their shafts are moved, thereby obviating inadvertent inaccuracies heretofore associated with the conditioning of the number wheels for being reset.

The mechanism in the position shown in FIG. 7 is now ready to condition the counter wheels for being reset and to effectuate the reset prior to a reconditioning of the counter wheels for a registering operation. This entire conditioning, resetting and reconditioning operation is accomplished automatically in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention by simply moving the control lever to its extended position shown in FIG. 10, that is, to the position it assumes during a fuel delivery. The movement of the control lever will,-

of course, rotate the coupling 32 about 90 in a clockwise direction, accompanied by the corresponding clockwise rotation of the control plate 36. It will be appreciated that the latching pawl 70 prevents clockwise rotational movement of the drive plate 42 as well as the cam 44 attached thereto. As the control plate 36 rotates in a clockwise direction from the position illustrated in FIG. 7, the control plate locking pin 128 carried by the latch 78 comes in contact with the inclined cam surface 132 adjacent the notch 130 of the control plate, the latch 78 being held by the tail 134 of cam 44 outwardly a sufl'icientdistance to permit contact between pin 128 and surface 132. The pin 128 rides along the surface 132 as illustrated in FIG. 8 and falls into the notch 130, thus preventing return movement of the control plate 36 to the position shown in FIG. 7 prior to release of the reset spring 54. The elongated holding arm 118 carried by plate 36 moves toward the lever 104 but, as illustrated in FIG. 8, its free end 120 is out of registry with notch 122 and is prevented from being received therein. The continued movement of plate 36 therefore loads the biasing spring of the arm 118 conditioning the arm for clockwise movement when the lever 104 is raised.

As the locking pin 128 falls into the notch 130 on control plate 36, the camming tail surface 136 of the control plate contacts the cam follower pin 138 aflixed to the drive plate latching pawl 70, moving the pawl counterclockwise against the bias of the spring 74 thereby releasing the drive plate 42 and permitting it to move under the driving force of the reset spring 54in a clockwise direction until the shoulder 76 of the control plate contacts the pawl 70 and prevents further clockwise rotation thereof. The clockwise movement of the drive plate and its depending drive pawl 60 drives the notched plate 66 and its connected main resetting gear 22 clockwise to reset the number wheels 18 and return the subassembly 26 to the position shown in FIG. 5. The dash pot (not shown) connected to the drive plate through the pin 44 will, of course, control the rapidity of movement of the drive plate and resetting gear in a clockwise direction, the initial portion of this movement releasing the latch 92 and permitting its clockwise rotation for limiting the advance of the notched plate 66. During the terminal portion of this movement the cam surface 114 of tab 108 cams the lever 104 counterclockwise turning the pump motor on and permitting the free end 120 of arm 118 to fall into notch 122 holding the motor in the ON condition. Additionally, the inclined camming surface 84 of cam 44 moves the pin 128 on latch 78 out of the notch 130 to release the control plate 36 and condition it for a subsequent operating cycle.

Thus, it can be seen that by rotation of the control plate from an initial angular position shown in FIG. to an extended angular position shown in FIG. 7, the drive plate is angularly turned, preferably about 90, to load the reset spring 54 and to index the drive pawl 60 to the succeeding notch of the notched plate 66. The drive plate is held in the extended angular position against the bias of the reset spring until the latching pawl 70 is tripped by the tail 136 of the control plate 36 near the completion of its clockwise return to release the drive plate 42 and drive the main resetting gear 22 approximately 90 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 8. In the specific embodiment shown in the drawings, the gear ratio between the main resetting gear 22 and the pinion 30 directly driven thereby is preferably such that a 90 rotation of gear 22 will advantageously be sufficient to cause the individual resetting gears mounted coaxially with the number wheels 18 to rotate approximately 610, i.e., about fifty percent or one-third more than is required for resetting the number wheels 18 to zero. Thereby the driving force of the reset spring can, during the last third of its power travel, more effectively operate to recondition the number wheels and turn on the fuel pump motor prior to the fuel delivery operation.

Previously, the rotation of the control plate between its initial and extended angular positions was employed for shifting the number wheel supporting shafts. In particular, the number wheel shafts were shifted in one axial direction to condition the registered counter for being reset when the control plate was rotated in the spring-loading counterclockwise direction. The number wheel shafts were shifted in the opposite axial direction for conditioning the counters for registering the succeeding fuel delivery when the control plate was returned to its initial angular position. Thus in conventional dispensing apparatus the number wheel shafts were shifted to condition them for resetting at the end of a fuel delivery and before the fuel nozzle was replaced within the usual storage receptacle. As a result of this shifting of the number wheel shafts one or more of the number wheels might be rotated slightly to give erroneous counter readings. Such erroneous readings could readily confuse the gasoline station attendant and/ or the customer and be the basis, knowingly or unknowingly, of inaccurate accounting or charges, Also, since the counter wheel shafts were shifted to condition the number wheels for being reset as the control plate was rotated to its extended position and as the reset spring was loaded, it was previously necessary to ensure that the control plate was suitably latched as the drive pawl engaged the succeeding notch of the notched disk, for otherwise a partial reset of the number wheels would result. In accordance with the present invention, however, the counter shafts are retained in a normal operating or registering position while the control plate and the center shaft are manually rotated to their extended angular positions for loading the reset spring.

As shown in FIG. 1 a shift control subassembly, generally designated 16, is mounted on the opposite end of the center shaft 24 from the main resetting gear 22 for shifting the counter shafts of the register. The control subassembly 16 includes an armature 140 shown in FIG. 4 as mounted on the bushing 142 affixed to the center shaft 24 for rotation therewith. The armature 140 supports a pawl 144 biased in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 by torsion spring 146 mounted for operation over the cylindrical sleeve 148 positioned between the armature 140 and the pawl 144. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the nose of pawl 144 will ride over the ratchet teeth 156 of the cam hub 152 when the armature is rotated in a clockwise direction and will drivingly engage the teeth of the hub as the armature 140 is moved in a counterclockwise direction. It will therefore be appreciated that when the shift control mechanism 16 is in the position shown in FIG. 3, which is the condition of the mechanism during the dispensing operation, rotation of the center shaft 24 to load the reset spring 54 will effect clockwise rotation of the armature 140 causing the pawl 144 to ride over the teeth 150 on the hub 152. Since no force is thereby applied to the counter shafts 12 they are undisturbed by the spring loading rotation of the reset mechanism and inadvertent inaccuracies in the counter readings are thus avoided.

As mentioned hereinbefore the slide 14 shifts the counter wheel shafts 12 between a condition for being reset and a condition for registering a fuel delivery. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the slide 14 is biased to the right by the. spring 154 attached to the fixed post 156 on the slide and is provided with an upstanding cam follower or roller 158 which cooperates with the four lobe cam 160 conveniently mounted on the center shaft 22 through the hub 152 for independent rotation relative to the shaft. The shifting of the wheel supporting shafts 12 in order to condition the register for a resetting operation or to recondition it for a registering operation is accomplished by shifting the slide to the left and to the right, respectively.

The opposite ends of the slide are formed with notches 162 for accommodating and engaging the tails of pawls 164 which are fixed to upright shafts 166 journaled as at 168 on the registers side plate. The extremities of the shafts 166 are provided with gear segments 170 meshing with a series of circumferential teeth 172 on the adjacent protruding ends of the Wheel supporting shafts 12. Consequently, when the slide 14 is in the position shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, which is the registering position, the wheel supporting shafts 12 are correspondingly positioned so that the number wheels 18 will register the cost and volume of the fuel dispensed. However, when the slide 14 is shifted to the left into the position shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings by the camming action of the four lobe cam 160 against the roller 158 afiixed to the slide, the upright shafts 166 are caused to rotate and, in turn, axially shift the wheel supporting shafts 12 whereby the number wheels are conditioned for being reset.

The slide 14 is further provided with an edge notch 174 positioned so that upon shifting the slide to the left into the position shown in FIG. 2, the notch 174 receives the foot 176 of the latch 178 pivoted at 180 and biased in the clockwise direction by the spring 182 to retain the slide in its shifted position until the resetting operation has been completed. It will be appreciated that the shift of the slide to the left is accomplished as the control plate 36 of the reset mechanism is moved out of the position shown in FIG. 7 to the position shown in FIG. 8 and prior to release of the reset spring 54 for resetting the counter wheels. This movement of the control plate 36 and center shaft 24 drives the armature 140 counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 3 causing the pawl 144 to rotatably drive the hub 152 and cam 160 in a corresponding counterclockwise direction. The resultant rotation of the cam 160 forces the roller 158 and the slide 14 to the left, loading the spring 154 and shifting the shafts 12 for a resetting operation. The continued movement of the control plate 36 is sufiicient to bring the roller 158 into registry with the next succeeding notch of the cam 160. However, as shown in FIG. 2, before cam 160 reaches that point the latch 178 is moved into notch 174 to hold the slide 14 in its shifted position and prevent its return movement to the right. Additionally, the continued motion of the drive plate in a clockwise direc- 9 tion from the position shown in FIG. 8 to that shown in FIG. will, as mentioned hereinbefore, release the reset spring 54 for driving the main resetting gear 22 which, in turn, rotates the reset shaft 28 to turn the reset gears for resetting the individual number wheels 18.

,Aflixed to the end of reset shaft 28 on the shift control side of the register is a pinion gear 184 which meshes with a larger slide release disk 186 mounted for convenience on the center shaft 24 for independent rotation relative thereto. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the gear ratio between pinion gear 184 and disk 186 is the same as that between pinion 30 and the main resetting gear 22 whereby a rotational movement of by the main resetting gear 22 will cause the disk 186 to also rotate 90. As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the disk is provided with four equally spaced latch releasing pins 188 which extend behind the disk 186 adjacent the periphery thereof and act against the upstanding heel tab 190 of the latch 178 as the reset shaft completes its resetting operation to move the latch counterclockwise against the bias of spring 182, thereby releasing the foot 176 of the latch from the side notch 174 of the slide and permitting the slide to shift to the right under the bias of its loaded drive spring 154. As a result the roller 158 afiixed to the slide will move to the right into the advanced notch of the four lobe cam 160, returning the shift control mechanism to the position shown in FIG. 3 and simultaneously reconditioning the number wheels 18 for a registering operation. As mentioned hereinbe-fore, the number wheels are fully reset to zero in accordance with the present invention after approximately a 60 counterclockwise movement of the disk 186. Therefore more than sufficient rotation is provided by the remaining 30 of travel of the disk to etfectuate the reconditioning shift of the wheel shafts and the actuation of the fuel pump motor.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings, there is illustrated a nozzle storage and control lever mechanism, designated generally by the numeral 192, which functions as a control for the full reset cycle of the register by moving between an extended functioning or dispensing position and a retracted deactivated or static position. The mechanism 192 includes a manually operated combined control lever and nozzle support 34, hereinafter referred to as a control lever, rota-tably supported for bidirectional pivotal movement by the lug 194 projecting inwardly from the housing 196 for the mechanism affixed to the side wall of the dispensing apparatus. The control lever 34 pivots on the pin 198 mounted by the lug 194 and comprises alower nozzle guide portion 200 which extends through a vertical slot 202 in the housing 196 for receiving the fuel nozzle 204 during storage thereof and an integral, an-gularly disposed, oper ating lever portion 206 connected through a suitable linkage, schematically illustrated in FIG. 9 and designated by the reference numeral 208, with the center shaft 24 of the register for suitably rotating the shaft 24 during the resetting cycle. The linkage 208 is such that upon clockwise rotation of the control lever 34 to the retracted position as shown in FIG. 9, the reset spring 54 is loaded and the pump mot-or is turned off, and upon rotation of the lever 34 in the opposite direction to the extended position shown in FIG. 10, the register is conditioned for being reset and is then automatically reset and reconditioned for registering a fuel delivery prior to the pump motor being turned on.

The nozzle g-uide portion 200 of the control lever 34 is provided with a generally rectangular, longitudinally extending channel 210 for receiving the elongated trigger guard 2120f the dispensing nozzle 204 during storage of the nozzle on the apparatus. Wing-like flanges 214 (FIG. 10) extend outwardly from each side of the channel 210 and conveniently provide a means for manually moving the control lever 34 between its retracted and extended operating positions. A horizontal latching bar 216 is mounted on the back of the channel 210 to facilitate latching of the control lever upon pivotal move ment to its retracted position and a pair of nozzle supporting lugs 218 are provided on the interior of the channel 210 at the lower bifurcated extremity thereof for supporting the nozzle within the channel when the control lever is in its extended position shown in FIG. 10.

The housing 196 affixed to the side of the dispensing apparatus is further provided with .a generally rectangular aperture 220 forming an access port to the nozzle boot 222 which extends rearwardly of the housing into the interior of the apparatus and suitably receives outlet tube 224 of the fuel dispensing nozzle 204. The aperture 220 is located directly above the elongated slot 202 in the housing and, in the embodiment illustrated, is provided with a closure panel or door 226 fixedly supported on the shaft 228 mounted by the boot 222 for rotation inwardly against the bias of a closure spring 230 as the outlet tube 224 of the nozzle 204 is placed within the boot. A pivotal latch 232 for latching the control lever 34 is mounted on the shaft 228 for rotational movement thereon and is provided with a notch 234 which cooperates with the rectangular lug 236 located on the boss 238 protruding from the side of the operating lever portion 206 to lock the control lever 34 in its retracted position. The latch 232 is provided with a protruding side the shaft 228. An outwardly extending latch control pin 244 is fixedly secured to the shaft 228 for cooperating with the side pin 240 of the latch to move the latch in a counterclockwise direction against the bias of spring 242. It will be appreciated that the closure spring 230 is of sufliciently greater strength than latch operating spring 242 to overcome the biasing force of spring 242 and to move the latch 232 out of contact with the lug 236 as the door 226 swings closed. Thus, removal of the outlet tube 224 from the boot 222 will effect release of the control lever 24 by the latch 232 permitting the counterclockwise movement of the control lever to its extended position.

The nozzle storage mechanism 192 additionally in cludes a lower nozzle support and latching lever 246 pivotal-1y mounted at 248 on an outwardly projecting portion 250 of the housing 196, the projecting portion 250 having a generally rectangular recess or depression 252 for accommodating the horizontal latching bar 216 carried on the back of the nozzle guide 200. A slot 254 aligned with central slot 202 extends from the bottom of portion 250 to a point above the recess 252 for receiving the lever 246 which is preferably biased in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 9 by the spring 256. The generally L-shaped lever 246 is provided with a trigger camming and retaining portion 258 extending outwardly of portion 250 for being received through the bifurcating-slot 260 at the bottom of the channel 210 and an upstanding latching portion 262 having a terminal hook 264 which protrudes through the slot25-4 above recess 252 for latching the horizontal bar 216 and a hook pivoting dimple 266 positioned at the bottom of recess 252 for actuation by the back of channel 210 as the bar 216 moves into the recess 252. The trigger camming and retaining portion 258 of the lever 246 is provided with a recess or valley 268 bounded inwardly by the slightly tapered surface 270 and outwardly by the steeper and longer trigger retaining surface 272.

Thus, when the trigger guard 212 is initially placed within the extended channel 210 of guide 200 it rests on and is sup-ported by the lugs 218 located at the bottom of the channel. As the nozzle 204 and guide portion 200 swing into the retracted position of FIG. 9, the trigger camming and retaining portion 258 of lever 246 passes through the channel slot 260 and the trigger guard slot 274 until the terminal camrming peak 276 of lever 246 cams the trigger 278 of the nozzle upward slightly thereby disengaging the trigger guard from the lugs 218 and permitting the nozzle 204 to lower onto the lever 246 until the end of guard slot 274 rests on the inclined surface 270. As the guide and nozzle reach the retracted position the back of channel 210 contacts dimple 266 rotating lever 2-46 and causing the hook 264 to latch over the bar 216 with the weight of the nozzle 204 on surface 270 assuring the pivotal latching action of the latching hook 264.

'In order to initiate a dispensing operation the operator lifts the nozzle upwardly off of the supporting lever 246 to clear the trigger .27 8 from the retaining surface 272 and then removes the outlet tube of thenozzle from the boot permitting the door 226 to swing counterclockwise to a closed position. The shaft 228 will rotate with the door bringing the latch control pin 244 into contact with the side pin 240 of the latch to drive the latch 228 counterclockwise for disengaging the notch 230 from the lug 232 and freeing the control lever 34 for movement to its extended position. The operator may then pull the control lever 34 outwardly causing the hook 264 to release the horizontal latching bar 216 and perm-it full movement of the control lever to its extended position. Upon completion of the fuel delivery the outlet tube 224 of the fuel nozzle 204 is placed within the access port of the booth 222 causing the door 226 to rotate clock-wise moving the latch control pin 244 away from the side pin 240 and permitting the latch 232 to move under the bias of the latch spring 242 against the lug 236 of the protruding boss carried by the control lever 34. However, since the control lever 34 has not as yet been rotated in a clockwise direction to effectuate loading of the reset spring 54, the notch 234 of the latch is out of registry with the lug 236 requiring the operator to move the control lever 34 inwardly to its retracted position causing clockwise rotation thereof and permit-ting the lug to move into the latch notch and lock the control lever in its retracted position.

'Although the control lever 34 is preferably manually rotated by the operator from its retracted position, it is provided withan aperture 280 for receiving one end of an extensible spring 282, shown in phantom in FIG. 9, which may if desired be provided in order to automatically rotate the lever 34 to its extended position as the nozzle is removed from the storage receptacle. In that event it may be preferred that latch 232 be locked in an inoper-ative position and for this purpose the latch 232 is provided with a set screw 284 which cooperates with the hole 286 in the side of boot 222 to continuously hold the latch out of contact with the locking lug 236 on the control lever 34.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing detailed description, the present invention facilitates operation of a fuel dispensing apparatus by a single control lever which may be a separate, manually operated member or may be combined with the storage receptacle for the fuel nozzle and automatically function upon removal of the nozzle from the receptacle. Additionally, upon completion of a fuel delivery the movement of the control lever is effective to load the reset spring without shifting the shafts of the number wheels, thus avoiding possible inadvertent movement of the number wheels and assuring an accurate reading of the fuel delivery. It is a further advantage of the present invention that the complete cycle of conditioning the number wheels for being reset, resetting the wheels and then reconditioning the wheels for registering a subsequent delivery are all accomplished automatically and at the time the fuel dispensing nozzle is removed from the nozzle storage receptacle thereby eliminating the number of operations required by the operator. These and other advantages will be readily apparent from the simplified, yet sturdy and reliable mechanism cf the present invention.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations of the structure above-described will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a counter mechanism having a resettable counter adapted to be alternatively conditioned for counting and for being reset, a rotatable reset driver operable in forward and reverse angular directions between initial and extended angular positions respectively and operable in its reverse angular direction for resetting the counter,

a reset spring for rotating the reset driver in the reverse angular direction, retaining means for releasably retaining the reset driver in its extended angular position, and sequencing means for alternatively conditioning the counter for counting and for being reset, for rotating the reset driver forwardly to its extended angular position, and for actuating the retaining means for releasing the reset driver, the improvement wherein the sequencing means comprises first control means having a rotary operator operable in one angular direction to rotate the reset driver to its extended angular position and in the opposite angular direction to sequentially condition the counter for being reset and actuate the retaining means to release the reset driver for resetting the counter.

2. In the counter mechanism of claim 1 wherein the sequencing means further comprises second control means operable by the reset driver as it is rotated in said reverse angular direction for conditioning the counter for counting after the counter has been reset.

3. In the counter mechanism of claim 1 wherein the rotary operator is coaxial with the reset driver and is rotatable in said forward angular direction from an initial angular position to an extended angular position for rotating the reset driver to its extended angular position and is rotatable in said reverse angular direction from its extended angular position to its initial angular position for sequentially conditioning the counter for being reset and actuating the retaining means.

4. In the counter mechanism of claim 3 wherein the retaining means comprises a pivotal latching pawl for retaining the reset driver in its extended angular position and wherein the rotary operator is operable in the reverse angular direction for sequentially conditioning the counter for being reset and actuating the pivotal pawl to release the reset driver.

5. In the counter mechanism of claim 3 wherein the retaining means is adapted for releasably retaining the rotary operator in its initial angular position and is operable by the reset driver for releasing the rotary operator as the reset driver is rotated in the reverse angular direction to itsinitial angular position.

6. In the counter mechanism of claim 5 wherein the retaining means comprises a pivotal latching pawl for retaining the rotary operator in its initial angular position and wherein the reset driver is operable in said reverse angular direction for sequentially resetting the counter and partially rotated in the forward angular direction from its initial to its extended angular position.

9. In the counter mechanism of claim 1 wherein the first control means comprises one-way drive means operated by said rotary operator for conditioning the counter for being reset as said rotary operator is rotated in its opposite angular direction.

10. In the counter mechanism of claim 1 wherein the first control means comprises rotary cam means for conditioning the counter for being reset and ratchet and pawl means interconnecting the cam and rotary operator to rotate the cam means to condition the counter for being reset as said rotary operator is rotated in its opposite angular direction.

11. In the counter mechanism of claim wherein the first control means comprises a reciprocable actuator for alternatively conditioning the counter for counting and for being reset and adapted to be actuated by said cam means from a first reciprocable position to a second reciprocable position to condition the counter for being reset, return spring means biasing the reciprocable actuator to its first reciprocable position for conditioning the counter for counting, and releasable latching means for retaining the reciprocable actuator in its second reciprocable position, and wherein the second control means comprises trip means connected for operation by the reset driver as it is rotated in its reverse angular direction to release the latching means.

12. In the counter mechanism of claim 2 wherein the first control means comprises return spring means for conditioning the counter for counting, said first control means being operable for releasably maintaining the counter conditioned for being reset against the bias of the return spring means, and wherein the reset driver is operable in said reverse angular direction to release the return spring means for conditioning the counter for counting.

13. In the counter mechanism of claim 3 wherein the rotatable operator is adapted to actuate the retaining means to release the reset driver near the end of the reverse angular movement of the rotary operator to its initial angular position.

14. In fluid dispensing apparatus having a resettable register adapted to be alternatively conditioned for registering the amount of fluid dispensed and for being reset, a reset spring for resetting the register, and control means with a rotary operator rotatable in forward and reverse angular directions from initial and extended angular positions respectively for conditioning the fluid dispensing apparatus for being inoperative for dispensing fluid, for conditioning the register for being reset, for resetting the register with the reset spring, for conditioning the register for registering the amount of the fluid dispensed, and for conditioning the fluid dispensing apparatus for being operative for dispensing fluid, the improvement wherein the rotary operator is rotatable in said forward angular direction from its initial angular position to its extended angular position for conditioning the fluid dispensing apparatus for being inoperative for dispensing fluid, and is rotatable in said reverse angular direction from its forward angular position to its initial angular position for sequentially conditioning the register for being reset, resetting the register with the reset spring, conditioning the register for registering the amount of the fluid dispensed and conditioning the fluid dispensing apparatus for being operative for dispensing fluid.

15. In the fluid dispensing apparatus of c1aim14 wherein the control means comprises a reset driver coaxial with the rotary operator and rotatable in said forward and reverse angular directions from first and second angular positions thereof and rotatable in said reverse angular direction by the reset spring for resetting the register and wherein the rotary operator is manually rotatable in said forward angular direction between initial and extended positions thereof for rotating the reset driver to its extended angular position and in said reverse angular direction from its extended to its initial angular position for sequentially conditioning the register for being reset, rotating the reset driver in the reverse angular direction with the reset spring for resetting the register, conditioning the register for registering the amount of fluid dispensed, and conditioning the fluid dispensing apparatus for being operative for dispensing fluid.

16. In the fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 15 further comprising apparatus control means operable by the reset driver to condition the apparatus for being operative for dispensing fluid as the reset driver is rotated in the reverse angular direction to its initial angular position.

17. In the fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 15 further comprising retaining means for releasably retaining the reset driver in its extended angular position, and wherein the reset driver is operative upon rotation in the reverse angular direction from its extended to its initial angular position for sequentially resetting the register, conditioning the register for registering the amount of fluid dispensed, and conditioning the fluid dispensing apparatus for being operative for dispensing fluid.

18. In the fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 17 wherein the rotary operator is rotatable in the reverse angular direction for sequentially conditioning the register for being reset and actuating the retaining means to release the reset driver for rotation in the reverse angular direction by the reset spring.

19. In the fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a reciprocable arm operable in first and second reciprocable directions between inactive and active positions providing for conditioning the apparatus for being operative and inoperative respectively for dispensing fluid, and arm operating means for actuating the arm in the first reciprocable direction to its active position to condition the apparatus for being operative for dispensing fluid as the reset driver is rotated in the reverse angular direction to its initial position and for actuating the arm in the second reciprocable direction to its inactive position as the rotary operator is rotated in the forward angular direction from its initial position.

243. In the fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 19 wherein the arm operating means comprises pawl means pivotally mounted on the reset driver adapted to reciprocate the arm to its active reciprocable position as the reset driver returns to initial angular position and adapted to be pivoted by the arm to avoid actuating the arm to its active position as the reset driver is rotated in the forward angular direction.

21. In the fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 20 wherein the arm operating means further comprises spring means biasing the arm in the second reciprocable direction to its inactive position to condition the apparatus for being inoperative for dispensing fluid, catch means pivotally mounted on the rotary operator, and spring means biasing the catch means in one pivotal direction to a first pivotal position for retaining the arm in its active position when the rotary operator is in its initial position, said catch means being adapted to be withdrawn to release the arm as the rotary operator is rotated forwardly from its initial angular position.

22. In the fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 15 wherein the control means comprises an apparatus controller adapted to be actuated to condition the apparatus for being inoperative for dispensing fluid as the rotary operator is rotated in the forward angular direction from its initial angular position.

23. In a fluid dispensing apparatus adapted for being alternatively conditioned for being operative and inoperative respectively for delivering fluid and having a resettable register with a rotatable reset drive member operable in forward and reverse angular directions between initial and extended angular positions respectively and operable in its reverse angular direction for resetting the register, a reset spring for rotating the reset drive member in the reverse angular direction, releasable latching means for retaining the reset drive member in its extended angular position, and selectively operable means for rotating the reset drive member forwardly to its extended angular position, for releasing the latching means, and for alternatively conditioning the fluid dispensing apparatus for being operative and inoperative for delivering fluid, the improvement wherein the selectively operable means comprises a rotary operator coaxial with the reset drive member and operable in the forward angular direction for rotating the reset drive member to its extended angular position and in the reverse angular direction for releasing the latching means, and apparatus control means operable in accordance with the operation of the reset drive member to condition the apparatus for being inoperative for delivering fluid when the reset drive member is rotated in its forward angular direction from its initial position and to condition the apparatus for being operative for delivering fluid when the reset drive member is rotated in the reverse angular direction to its initial position.

24. In the fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 15 having a fluid dispensing nozzle and a nozzle storage receptacle for storing the nozzle between fluid deliveries, wherein the control means comprises a pivotal control lever forming a part of the nozzle storage receptacle and connected to rotate the rotary operator in said forward and reverse angular directions between its initial and extended positions by pivotal movement of the control lever in opposite pivotal directions between retracted and extended pivotal positions respectively, said control lever being mounted such that the nozzle is adapted to pivot the lever to its retracted pivotal position to rotate the rotary operator in the forward angular direction to its extended position when the nozzle is placed in its storage receptacle and the control lever is adapted to be pivoted to its extended position with the nozzle removed from the storage receptacle.

25. In the fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 24 wherein the control means comprises releasable latch means for automatically retaining the lever in its retracted position with the nozzle placed on the storage receptacle.

26. In a fluid dispensing apparatus adapted for being alternatively conditioned for being operative and inoperative for delivering fluid and having a resettable register adapted to be alternatively conditioned for'registering the amount of fluid dispensed and for being reset, a nozzle for dispensing fluid, a nozzle storage receptacle for storing the nozzle between fluid deliveries, and a pivotal control lever operable in forward and reverse pivotal directions between retracted and extended pivotal positions respectively for alternatively conditioning the register for registering the amount of fluid delivered and for being reset, resetting the register, and alternatively conditioning the apparatus for being operative and inoperative respectively for delivering fluid, the improvement wherein the pivotal control lever forms a part of the storage receptacle such that the nozzle is adapted to pivot the lever to its retracted pivotal position and to thereby condition the apparatus for being inoperative for delivering fluid when the nozzle is placed in its storage receptacle and the lever is adapted to be pivoted to its extended position with the nozzle re moved from its storage receptacle and to thereby reset the register, condition the register for registering the amount of fluid dispensed, and condition the apparatus for being operative for delivering fluid, and wherein the apparatus further comprises releasable latch means for retaining the control lever in its retracted position and adapted to automatically release the control lever to permit it to be pivoted to its extended position when the nozzle is withdrawn from its storage receptacle.

27. In the fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 26 in which the nozzle has an outlet tube and the storage receptacle has a boot for receiving the outlet tube with the nozzle stored on the storage receptacle, and wherein the releasable latch means comprises a pivotal latching lever having an operative pivotal position for latching the control lever in its retracted position, a pivotal latch control lever connected to the latching lever and mounted to be pivoted by the nozzle outlet tube when the tube is inserted in the boot to retain the latching lever in its operative pivotal position, and spring means for pivoting the latching lever away from its operative pivotal position to release the control lever when the nozzle outlet tube is withdrawn from the boot.

28. In the fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 26 wherein the releasable latch means comprises a combined nozzle support and control lever latch pivotally mounted at the lower end of the nozzle receptacle and having a lower pivotal position for supporting the nozzle and for atch-' ing the control lever and an upper pivotal positiontfor releasing the control lever, said latch being adapted to be pivoted upwardly to its upper pivotal position when the nozzle is removed from thestorage receptacle and to be pivoted downwardly to its lower position by the nozzle when the nozzle is placed in the storage receptacle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,045,868 7/ 1962 Carnagua et al. 222-33 3,072,292 1/1963 Haupt et a1. 222-33 3,142,442 7/ 1964 Wild 235--144 3,197,065 7/ 1965 Pilz et al. 222-33 3,216,659 11/1965 Ambler et a1. 235-144 3,332,619 7/1967 Ambler et a1 235144 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner. 

